Water Potential

• What is a solvent?

  The liquid that the molecule is dissolved in
• What is a solute?

  The molecule that is dissolved
• What does a higher free water concentration indicate?

  It indicates a lower solute concentration
• What does a lower free water concentration indicate?

  It indicates a higher solute concentration
• Why do solute molecules attract water?

  They reduce free water availability
• In which direction does water move in a hypotonic solution?

  From left to right
• What is the net movement of water between solutions?

  From a hypotonic to a hypertonic solution
• Do water molecules move in isotonic solutions?

  Yes, they maintain dynamic equilibrium
• Is there a net movement of water in isotonic solutions?

  No, movement is balanced in both directions
• What characterizes a hypertonic solution?

  More solute, less water
• What characterizes a hypotonic solution?

  Less solute, more water
• What characterizes an isotonic solution?

  Same solute concentration
• What happens to red blood cells in a hypertonic solution?

  They undergo crenation and shrink
• What happens to red blood cells in a hypotonic solution?

  They burst in a process called hemolysis
• What happens to plant cells in a hypertonic solution?

  They undergo plasmolysis and shrink
• What happens to plant cells in a hypotonic solution?

  They swell due to turgor pressure
• In what type of environment does Paramecium live?

  Hypotonic environment (freshwater)
• What organelle helps Paramecium with osmoregulation?

  Contractile vacuole
• What action does the contractile vacuole perform?

  It pushes water out of the cell
• How do plant cells differ from animal cells in hypotonic solutions?

  Plant cells resist bursting due to cell walls
• Why are isotonic solutions used in IV fluids?

  To maintain blood volume and prevent osmotic stress
• What is the purpose of isotonic solutions in organ transplant preservation?

  To prevent osmotic damage to cells
• Why is % difference used in experiments?

  It normalizes changes relative to initial values
• What does standard deviation (SD) measure?

  Variability within a dataset
• What does standard error (SE) estimate?

  Precision of the sample mean relative to population mean
• When is standard deviation (SD) used?

  For measuring data spread
• When is standard error (SE) used?

  For error bars in graphs showing confidence
• What are the key takeaways regarding osmosis and cell responses?

  • Osmosis direction: Hypotonic → Hypertonic
  • Isotonic solutions prevent osmotic stress in medical applications
  • Plant cells resist bursting due to cell walls; animal cells rely on isotonic environments
  • Statistical tools (SD, SE) enhance data reliability analysis
• What are the differences between hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic solutions?

  • Hypertonic: More solute, less water
  • Hypotonic: Less solute, more water
  • Isotonic: Same solute concentration
• What are the cellular responses to osmosis in red blood cells and plant cells?

  • Crenation: Red blood cell shrinks in hypertonic solution
  • Hemolysis: Red blood cell bursts in hypotonic solution
  • Plasmolysis: Plant cell shrinks in hypertonic solution
  • Turgor pressure: Plant cell swells in hypotonic solution
• What are key features of Paramecium?

  Oval-shaped single-celled organism. Covered in cilia. Has contractile vacuoles. Reproduces via binary fission or conjugation.